The next daybreak Sloane left the estate after Yulia saw her off. Azriel was nowhere to be seen.
-"When you are successful. Only then return to the estate. There will be no room for the weak."
His words repeated in her mind. She was partly annoyed since apart from the cold farewell he didn't see her off.
"My lady the master didn't mean those words in that way. Please don't take them to heart."
The head butler was her escort instead of an ordinary knight.
"Sir Jonas."
"Please call me Jonas my lady." He smiled.
"I wouldn't. Anyways you were always by my father's side even in his childhood."
"Yes, I was his servant, knight, teacher, and even a chef." He boasted proudly.
"I-Is it so?"She smiled awkwardly.
-"A chef?"
"What was father like in his childhood?"
"Let's see...hmm...Like you."
"Like me?"
It was an unusual reply to her. She expected something else.
"He was a prodigy and a swords master at your age."
-"He definitely isn't like me!"Her thoughts screamed.
"But he was caring. Even if he does not looks like a normal father to you. But he is a loving, husband, a loving father, and a caring master to his servants. And none of his men want to lose such an admirable General. The only flaw is that he can not express his emotions freely."
"Why is that?"
The butler went silent and a gentle smile was replaced by a grim look on his face.
"Sigh*My lady the lord doesn't want me to talk about his past to anyone. Even your mother the marchioness managed to get a hold of bits and pieces in some way. I apologize for not complying with your request."
"No, I won't force you. I am the one at fault for skimming through something that you didn't want to talk about. I sincerely apologize."
"I can just tell you one thing you need to know my lady. It is that I swore an oath to the Lord. I can say no more on the matter."
"I understand," she replied grimly.
-"Father, why do you keep secrets from everyone. Even mother? I thought there was nothing she didn't know about him."
"Sir, My lady we have arrived." The coachman called out.
Jonas opened the door and escorted Sloane to the gate.
"It's..."
-"Huge!"She was awed at the first glance. The others had just arrived with her. There were numerous carriages lined up one after the other.
"What a crowd. Just how many knights did Valentinos recruit this year? Did they expand their territory as well?"
-"No it can't be. The architecture of the buildings around is two centuries older. Or perhaps I was never aware of it."
Since in the past timeline, Sloane was made the commander of the knights directly, she was sent to the palace for training instead. The palace selected only a handful of promising knights who were trained under Azriel's guidance. She was one of them. She did not know how to prove her skills. Her selection was approved by the King just because she belonged to Nirvana.
"Well then my lady, your luggage has been sent to your dorms. We will take our leave here."
"You have my gratitude, Sir Jonas. Have a safe trip back." She bid them farewell and entered the gate with the remaining other recruits.
-"This must the annex."She observed the high triple-story building which continued to extend from the central building to the other end just behind the walls of the main estate.
"Alright, new soldiers gather up information. We don't have the time to dawdle around. Our day is busy."
They all stood in array in front of the man who was in blue and white knight's uniform.
It was seven in the morning. The new soldiers were ordered to run fifty laps of the grounds without any break.
"I got to keep up."
Sloane breathed heavily.
-"This should be a piece of cake for me and yet."
"Isn't she a Nirvana?"
"Wait you mean that Nirvana? As in Sloane De Nirvana?"
"No way the youngest strategist of this generation? Wait why is she here?"
"Beats me. Shouldn't she be sent to be Palace instead?"
"I thought her family swore loyalty to the king. They are like guard dogs of the king."
-"These bastards. I can hear them. Have they no shame? How dare they speak like that about my family?"
"You have guts to speak about someone else lest the poor results during the knight's ceremony. How cocky can you get?"
-"This familiar voice."
She looked up and to her shock, she saw the two assassin duo who were teamed up with her during the Knight's ceremony.
"It's them. Let's go if you don't want to be in trouble." They immediately backed away from her.
"My Lady! Are you alright?" Someone called her from behind.
"Jack!Nine!You both came. Wait, why didn't you wait until your debutante ball was organized?"
"We are knights you know. Although future knights."Nine answered back.
"Oh! Aren't they?"
"Yes, our former team members. I am glad I recognized their voices. Thank you for standing up for me."
"Get on your feet newbies!"A stern voice a few steps away ordered them.
"Yes, sir!"
"They are running without a break. You know how to compete with Nirvana's commander, Laurentius."
"My lord it's time."
—"I hate speeches."
"Bring me my coat."
—"You've come daughter of Nirvana."